Dense Bean Salad With Tomatoes (Printable)
Hearty Mediterranean bean salad with sun-dried tomatoes, capers and red wine vinaigrette; ready in 15 minutes.
# What You Need:
→ Beans
01 - 1 can (14 oz) cannellini beans, drained and rinsed
02 - 1 can (14 oz) kidney beans, drained and rinsed
03 - 1 can (14 oz) chickpeas, drained and rinsed
→ Vegetables & Add-Ins
04 - 3.5 oz sun-dried tomatoes in oil, sliced
05 - 1 small red onion, finely diced
06 - 1 small cucumber, diced
07 - 1 red bell pepper, diced
08 - 2 tablespoons capers, drained
09 - 3 tablespoons fresh parsley, chopped
10 - 1 tablespoon fresh basil, chopped (optional)
→ Dressing
11 - 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil
12 - 2 tablespoons red wine vinegar
13 - 1 teaspoon Dijon mustard
14 - 1 garlic clove, minced
15 - Salt and freshly ground black pepper, to taste
# Steps:
01 - In a large salad bowl, gently combine the cannellini beans, kidney beans, chickpeas, sun-dried tomatoes, red onion, cucumber, red bell pepper, capers, parsley, and basil.
02 - In a small bowl or jar, whisk together the olive oil, red wine vinegar, Dijon mustard, minced garlic, salt, and black pepper until fully emulsified.
03 - Pour the dressing over the bean mixture and toss carefully to ensure all ingredients are evenly coated.
04 - Let the salad rest for at least 10 minutes at room temperature before serving, allowing flavors to develop.
05 - Present the salad chilled or at room temperature as desired.
# Expert Advice:
01 -
- You can throw this together with pantry staples and still feel like you&apove pulled off something impressive.
- The combination of creamy beans, chewy sun-dried tomatoes, and briny capers makes every bite feel like a mini adventure.
02 -
- Once, I dumped everything together without draining the beans well and ended up with a salad more like bean soup—always drain and rinse thoroughly.
- Tasting the dressing before tossing makes all the difference, since just a splash more vinegar or a pinch of salt can tip it into perfection.
03 -
- Always double-check your bean cans for sneaky extra salt; it creeps up fast in a salad like this.
- Slicing sun-dried tomatoes thinly keeps each bite balanced—big chunks can overwhelm, but ribbons weave through for the perfect punch.